***spoilers*** UFC News and Discussion Thread

[tristy]

Jones is scary good. I love his fighting stance, too.

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

Trying to think of who makes sense as a next opponent for Jones, I think everybody wants to see him move a step up. He could still be protected with a fight against Franklin or Wanderlei maybe.

Good show though, shame there wasn't time for more prelims.

[IzzyX]

Gomi KTFO'd Tyson Griffin. That was one nasty shot man. Also Jon Jones gets another victory, I wanna see him fight a major contender. Maybe Forrest, I'm night sure.

[Rich]

Wandy will stay at 185, eliminating him from the running, a Forrest or an Ace fight would be good for Jones, he has looked mighty impressive, and a step up in competition is needed, I like the way Joe Silva rotects these guys nowadays and a llows them to move on until you actually start to ask "Well, who could be next at this level?" which is where we are with Jones now.

Gomi's win was awesome, still love the guy. Okami takes another decision, nothing suprising, but Munoz did put up a strong fight, all props to him. Olivera looked brilliant in his win, could be another Brazilian superstar in the making and Jake beating Howard was good fun and a good performance.

[Enter Blue Guy]

I'll say it was Okami's takedown defense possibly mixed with fatigue and frustration on Munoz' part, but he had nothing on those takedowns. At one point in the third round he just dropped to his knees and went in for something that looked more like a single leg hug than a takedown. I understand given those three factors, but so much has been made about Munoz' wrestling creds. I guess Okami didn't sweat Munoz' stand up either. Hands fairly low and was content to take a punch if he needed to. The timing is right for Leben/Okami. If that's the case, you'd think Okami would want to do something about that.

I like the idea of Jones/Forrest next.

[DavidMarrio]

How long is Thiago Silva out for? Cause i think him, Forrest or Franklin would be good choices for a next fight for Jones.

[Rich]

Silva isn't out for long, he pulled out of the Boetsch fight because he got a minor injury setback, it was more of a "Carefully, carefully" approach following his well documented problems, so hopeully he'll be back in early Q4, like Ace and Forrest should be back in Q4

[Benjamin]

Has the Alves / Fitch match been made the co-main event at 117 instead of Hughes / Almeida, or is the poster at Wikipedia deceiving me?

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

I don't remember Alves/Fitch *not* being the co-main event.

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

Alan Belcher is out of the next Fight Night because of a detached retina. Rather than find a replacement to go against Maia, UFC has scrapped that fight altogether. New main event is Nate Marquardt vs. Rousmahir Palhares, moved from UFC 118.

And the cast of Ultimate Fighter 12, in spoilers for length-related reasons:

J.J. Ambrose

Fighting out of: Santa Clara, Calif.

Gym: American Kickboxing Academy

Record: 12-2

Age: 23

Paul Barrow

Fighting out of: Tampa, Fla.

Gym: Gracie Tampa

Record: 2-0

Age: 24

Jason Brenton

Fighting out of: Grand Junction, Colo.

Gym: Eighth Street Impact Boxing

Record: 6-0

Age: 23

Jonathan Brookins

Fighting out of: Orlando, Fla.

Gym: Gracie Barra Orlando

Record: 11-2

Age: 24

Mike Budnik

Fighting out of: Broken Arrow, Okla.

Gym: Triton

Record: 8-4

Age: 35

Alex Caceres

Fighting out of: Miami, Fla.

Gym: Young Tigers Foundation

Record: 4-2

Age: 21

Sako Chivitchian

Fighting out of: Glendale, Calif.

Gym: Gokor/Gene Le Bell/Hayastan MMA

Record: 5-0

Age: 26

Joseph Duffy

Fighting out of: Donegal, Ireland

Gym: Falcon Martial Arts

Record: 7-0

Age: 22

Pablo Garza

Fighting out of: Fargo, N.D.

Gym: Academy of Combat Arts

Record: 7-0

Age: 26

Toby Grear

Fighting out of: Los Angeles

Gym: True Warrior

Record: 7-4-1

Age: 30

Dan Head

Fighting out of: Sharpsville, Ind.

Gym: Indiana Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy

Record: 6-2

Age: 23

Michael Johnson

Fighting out of: Springfield, Mo.

Gym: Springfield Fight Club

Record: 8-4

Age: 24

Amir Khillah

Fighting out of: Kalamazoo, Mich.

Gym: Jeremy Horn’s Elite

Record: 6-4

Age: 30

Jeff Lentz

Fighting out of: Lanoka Harbor, N.J.

Gym: Kurt Pellegrino MMA Academy

Record: 6-1

Age: 21

Sevak Magakian

Fighting out of: Glendale, Calif.

Gym: Hayastan MMA/Main Event

Record: 8-3

Age: 24

Steve Magdaleno

Fighting out of: Torrance, Calif.

Gym: VMAT MMA Gym

Record: 5-1

Age: 28

Andy Main

Fighting out of: Boonton, N.J.

Gym: AMA Fight Club

Record: 4-1

Age: 21

Cody McKenzie

Fighting out of: Metaline, Wash.

Gym: Fancy Pants Fight Team

Record: 10-0

Age: 22

T.J. O'Brien

Fighting out of: Prole, Iowa

Gym: Round Kick MMA

Record: 13-3

Age: 23

Spencer Paige

Fighting out of: Watertown, N.Y.

Gym: Central New York MMA

Record: 5-2

Age: 24

Nam Phan

Fighting out of: Garden Grove, Calif.

Gym: Ma Du Academy

Record: 15-7

Age: 27

Mike Richman

Fighting out of: Rosemount, Minn.

Gym: Minnesota Fight Factory

Record: 8-0

Age: 24

Dane Sayers

Fighting out of: Fargo, N.D.

Gym: Academy of Combat Arts

Record: 7-1

Age: 22

Ariel Sexton

Fighting out of: San Jose, Calif.

Gym: Renzo Gracie Academy

Record: 6-3

Age: 28

Marc Stevens

Fighting out of: Lorraine, N.Y.

Gym: Team Balance/Relson Gracie Academy

Record: 12-5

Age: 24

Kyle Watson

Fighting out of: St. Louis

Gym: The Hit Squad

Record: 13-6-1

Age: 30

Ran Weathers

Fighting out of: Albquerque, N.M.

Gym: Greg Jackson’s MMA Academy

Record: 13-5

Age: 28

Aaron Wilkinson

Fighting out of: Manchester, England

Gym: Wolfslair MMA Academy

Record: 6-3

Age: 23

This could be fun. I recognize quite a few names (hell, Grear was even in PANAMA!), but I'll be pulling most for him, Ambrose, and especially Phan. I love Nam Phan.

[DavidMarrio]

Its a smart move makes alot of sense. I wonder if they'll move one of the Spike TV matches onto the main card, Harris/Sakara would be good.

Then maybe put the Dan Miller or Andre Winner fight onto the Spike Prelims

[DJ Ice]

Just about to get my UFC 120 tics . Might be going to UFC 122 in Germany as well!!

Edited August 3, 2010 by DJ Ice

[Benjamin]

I don't remember Alves/Fitch *not* being the co-main event.

Really? I must be going mad then, I swear I remember the Hughes' match being the co-main event. Ah well, he's fighting anyway. Matt Hughes

Also, Maia is going to face Mario Miranda at UFC 118. Should be fun.

[IzzyX]

James Irvin has apparently been cut. Dana White though said he wants him to come back once he's back on track.

[Powerhart]

I don't remember Alves/Fitch *not* being the co-main event.

Really? I must be going mad then, I swear I remember the Hughes' match being the co-main event. Ah well, he's fighting anyway. Matt Hughes

Also, Maia is going to face Mario Miranda at UFC 118. Should be fun.

No, you're not the only one. I saw it too. That's like the third poster released, the first one was only Silva/Sonnen, then when they announced more fights, Hughes/Almeida was made co-Main Event before Alves/Fitch was officialised for this event.

I just downloaded got Countdown to UFC 117 and they hype Hughes/Alemida as the co-Main Event, but after hearing Gughes/Alves was for a title fight opportunity, I'm pretty sure they'll make Alves/Fitch the co-Main Event.

[Liam]

Is there any chance of Roy Nelson winning this weekend?

[Gabriel]

Is there any chance of Roy Nelson winning this weekend?

If he can get Dos Santos down and control him on the ground, he could very well end up as the next challenger for the championship. That said, his takedowns and ground work looked better in his UFC fights than it actually is, and we're still unsure of how Dos Santos will react IF he does end up on his back. Stand-up wise, Nelson has also looked better than he is during his UFC run thus far. Dos Santos is a superior striker with far more power.

Basically, Roy Nelson has to take this down fast and hope that Junior can't get back up.

[Liam]

In my betting shop, they go 11/4 Nelson, 1/4 dos Santos, so Santos is favourite, but part of me likes seeing a fat guy beat people, so was going to stick Nelson in as a heart over head decision.

Was thinking my bets would look something like this:

Silva

Nelson

Guida

Fitch

Almeida

Nelson was the only one I wasn't sure about, and was more to add value to an otherwise underwhelming bet.

[Powerhart]

Chael Sonnen is winning that fight. Haven't you been paying attention to the man?

[Gabriel]

Nelson and Guida are picks I wouldn't make.

I love Clay Guida to death. The guy has a similar taste in music to myself, and he's all energy from the time his music starts until the fight ends. That being said, I just don't see him having the ability to finish that fight. If he wins it, it probably goes the distance, and doing that is dangerous for him at this point in his career.

On the topic of the main event, I can completely see Chael Sonnen walking away with the title. He's not going in there against the best Anderson Silva we've seen. He's going in there against a guy who is seemingly indifferent to what's happening around him. If Sonnen comes prepared and launches himself at Anderson from the opening bell, he has every opportunity to walk out with the title.

Silva wins though when Chael figures that he's been safe from submissions for a round or two, and stops paying attention to defending them. Anderson by Triangle Choke in round 3 or 4, is my guess.